Dahlia plant named ‘Baldenasp’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘Baldenasp’, characterized by its double-type, medium red colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Dahlia variabilis.

Variety denomination: ‘Baldenasp’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant botanically known as Dahlia variabilis and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Baldenasp’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Hem, The Netherlands during August 2013. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Dahlia cultivars that are freely flowering with large inflorescences, mid-season flower timing, and a vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

The new Dahlia cultivar is the result of open pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Dahlia variabilis breeding selection coded S-138, not patented, characterized by its semi-double type, dark pink-colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was discovered as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open pollination during July 2014 in a controlled environment in Hem, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since July 2014 in Hem, The Netherlands and Andijk, The Netherlands has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true-to-type with all the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Baldenasp’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant:

-   -   1. Double-type, medium red colored inflorescences;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having medium red colored inflorescences, double-type inflorescences, and increased growth vigor.

Of the many commercially available Dahlia cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is DALAYA Vampire ‘Baldenrek’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,662. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Baldenrek’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have lighter red colored         inflorescences than plants of ‘Baldenrek’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have larger diameter         inflorescences than plants of ‘Baldenrek’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar more ray florets per inflorescence         than plants of ‘Baldenrek’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Baldenasp’. The 14-week-old plants were grown in 6.5-inch pots for 10 weeks in a glass-covered greenhouse in Hem, The Netherlands. Plants were given one pinch before transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Baldenasp’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Baldenasp’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The RHS Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in March 2021 under natural light conditions in Boskoop, The Netherlands.

The following descriptions and measurements describe 14-week-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in Hem, The Netherlands in 6.5-inch pots for 10 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch before transplant. Three Daminozide treatments were applied: one at 2,500 ppm two weeks after transplant, a second at 3,000 ppm four weeks after transplant and a third at 3,500 ppm six weeks after transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at an average of approximately 64° F. (18° C.) during the day and approximately 61° F. (16° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia variabilis ‘Baldenasp’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Dahlia variabilis breeding             selection coded S-138, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Unknown. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 9 to 12 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 25 to 32             days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 7 to 9 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous,             upright-mounded.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 29.8 cm. Height from soil level to top of             foliage: Approximately 25.0 cm. Width: Approximately 42.2             cm.         -   Branch.—Quantity of lateral branches per plant:             Approximately 6. Strength: Moderately strong. Length of             lateral branch: Approximately 15.5 cm. Diameter of lateral             branch at central internode: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length of             central internode of lateral branch: Approximately 3.6 cm.             Texture: Glabrous. Color: 146A with 144A, with immature             branches tinted with 197A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch:             Approximately 10. Type: Simple and compound. Quantity of             leaflets per compound leaf: Approximately 3, trifoliate.             Fragrance: None detected. Arrangement: Opposite. Aspect:             Petiole mostly perpendicular angle to stem with blade             extending downward. Shape of leaf and leaflet: Broadly             ovate. Margin of leaf and leaflet: Widely serrate. Apex of             leaf and leaflet: Acute. Base of leaf and leaflet: Broadly             attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate.         -   Simple leaf.—Length: Approximately 15.7 cm. Width:             Approximately 10.8 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Sparsely pubescent on venation. Color of upper surface: 139A             blended with 147A. Color of lower surface: 191A. Length of             petiole: Approximately 5.9 cm. Diameter of petiole:             Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces of             petiole: Glabrous. Color of upper surface of petiole: 146C             with 146A. Color of lower surface of petiole: 146C.         -   Mature trifoliate leaf.—Shape: Ovate in outline. Length of             mature trifoliate leaf: Approximately 17.1 cm. Width of             mature trifoliate leaf: Approximately 17.1 cm. Length of             terminal leaflet: Approximately 11.4 cm. Width of terminal             leaflet: Approximately 8.6 cm. Length of lateral leaflet:             Approximately 9.3 cm. Width of lateral leaflet:             Approximately 6.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Sparsely pubescent on venation. Color of upper surface: 139A             blended with 147A, tinted with 178A at rachis attachment.             Color of lower surface: 191A. Length of petiole of mature             trifoliate leaf: Approximately 5.4 cm. Diameter of petiole             of mature trifoliate leaf: Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture of             upper and lower surfaces of petiole: Glabrous. Color of             upper surface of petiole: 146C with 146A. Color of lower             surface of petiole: 146C. Length of rachis: Approximately             3.6 cm. Diameter of rachis: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of             upper and lower surfaces of rachis: Glabrous. Color of upper             and lower surfaces of rachis: 146C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Baldenasp’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from summer through autumn.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 2 weeks. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Double, composite, consisting of             multiple rows or ray florets, and disc florets, persistent.             Aspect: Facing upward and outward. Arrangement: Terminal,             arising from leaf axils on strong peduncles positioned over             the foliage. Disc and ray florets arranged acropetally on a             capitulum. Quantity per plant: Approximately 3. Fragrance:             None. Shape: Hemispherical to near spherical when ray             florets are fully open. Inflorescence diameter:             Approximately 10.2 cm. Inflorescence depth: Approximately             6.8 cm. Disc diameter: Approximately 1.0 cm. Receptacle             diameter at base: Approximately 1.0 cm. Receptacle depth:             Approximately 5.0 mm. Receptacle color: 146D.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 10.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm.             Texture: Glabrous. Color: 146A to 146B tinted with 200B and             N200A.         -   Bud.—Rate of bud opening: Generally takes 2 weeks for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 35.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblate. Depth at first             color: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter at first color:             Approximately 1.3 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Outer             surface of the phyllaries 153A with base of 143C.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 100.             Arrangement: Imbricate, in multiple whorls. Aspect: Slightly             concave. Shape: Obovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Apiculate.             Base: Attenuate. Appearance: Matte. Length: Approximately             4.7 cm. Width: Approximately 2.3 cm. Texture of upper             surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely             pubescent on venation, ribbed. Color of upper surface when             first and fully open: 53C. Color of lower surface when first             and fully open: 51A with a heavy overlay of 64C at apex and             base of 153D. Color of upper surface before senescence: 42A             transitioning to 70B at apex. Color of lower surface before             senescence: 39B with a heavy overlay of 59C and 60B at apex,             venation of 151A.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 20.             Arrangement: Massed in center of inflorescence. Aspect:             Erect. Shape: Tubular. Margin: Entire. Apex: 5 acute tips.             Base: Fused. Length: Approximately 1.4 cm. Diameter at apex:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color when fully open: 17A with             midsection and base of 145C, translucent.         -   Outer phyllaries.—Quantity: Approximately 5. Aspect: Flat,             reflexed. Shape: Narrowly elliptic. Margin: Entire,             undulate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately             1.8 cm. Width: Approximately 1.0 cm. Texture of upper and             lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface: NN137A to             NN137B. Color of lower surface: 147B.         -   Inner phyllaries.—Quantity: Approximately 1 per floret.             Shape: Linear, imbricate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly             acute to obtuse. Base: Truncate. Length of outermost:             Approximately 2.0 cm. Width of outermost: Approximately             7.0 mm. Length of innermost: Approximately 1.3 cm. Width of             innermost: Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower             surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 151C,             translucent with 143A at base of outermost.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: On disc florets. Stamen             quantity: 5 per floret. Stamen length: Approximately 8.0 mm.             Anther shape: Linear. Anther length: Approximately 4.0 mm.             Anther color: 154C. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color:             23A. Gynoecium: On disc and ray florets. Pistil length:             Approximately 9.0 mm. Stigma shape: 2 branched. Stigma             length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma width: Approximately             2.0 mm. Stigma color: 14B. Style length: Approximately             7.0 mm. Style color: 154B. Ovary length: Approximately             2.0 mm. Ovary color: 145D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Dahlia has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named ‘Baldenasp’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 